Sweep rake for tractors



'Dec'. i8, w23. Lf/,QTLQ

B. A. SPNNEY SWEEP RAI/IE FOR TRACTORS Filed July 2,9, 19120 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. A. sPlNNEY SWEEP RAKE FOR TRACTORS Filed July 29, 1920 2 sheetZs/-sheet 2 Patented Bec.. M5, i923. i 4

UNHTE- STATES @FFHCEO BURTON A. srINNEY, or Das MOINES, IOWA. swear BAKE FOR TRAcToRs.

Application ined Juiy 29, 192e. sei-iai no. 399,680.

' To iiZZ'fwo/n t may concern.' with the lever and brake device which are Be it known that l. BURTON A. SKPINNEY. arranged substantially near the operator of a citizen ol the United States, and aresithe tractor. dent of Des Moines. in the county ofl Polk A further object is to provide upon each f5 and State of Iowa, have invented a certain ofthe teeth of the sweep rake a shoe, capable new and useful Sweep Rake for Tractors, of of pivotal movement so as to travel over which the following is a specification. uneven grounch v The object of my device is to provide a lVith these and other objects in View my swee i rake for tractors which is of simple, invention consists in the construction, ar 65 0 durable and comparatively inexpensive cOnrangement land combination of the various struction. 'parts of the device, whereby the ob'ects con- More particularly it is my object to protemplated are attained, as liereina er more vide in such a device an attachment for fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, tractors adapted to operate in unison with .and illustrated in the accompanying drawthe tractor, whereby one operator may conings, in which: trol the tractor, as well as the sweep rake. Figure l shows a top plan View of my de- A further object is to provide a device vice attached toatractonparts of the tractor that may be Opeiated from a tractor, and being broken away to 'better` illustrate the provided with suitable steering mechanisms construction.

2o so that the steering of the tractor will steer Figure 2 shows a sectional view, taken on the sweep rake in accordance therewith. thc line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Still a further Objectis to provide suitable Figure 3 shows a sectional view, taken on spi-ing actuatedvmechanisms lfor tending to line 3 3 of', .Eigure 2, showing the clamp hold'tlie sweepirake directly ahead of the ,foruliolding the shoe on to the end of theaoYV 25 tractor. sweep rake.

Still a further object is to provide in such Figure 4 shows a sectional view, taken on a device suitable connections between the line 4-4 of Figure l. f tractor and the sweep rake,- for moving the Figure 5 shows a central, sectional view, sweep rake, yet the parts being capable of taken through the steering mechanism on 3o movement independent of the tractor, so line -e of Figure l. as to permit up and down movement, orl side A"Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken' on line nioveii'ient relative to the tractor, when the de- 6*@ of Figure l.4

vice is passing over rough or unevenground` Figure is a sectional View, taken on line Y ln this connection it may be stated that-iii t-i of I* igure 6.

56 many instances the ground over which the Figure 8 shows a sectional view,d `taken on tractor and sweep rake must pass will be line8`8 of Figure l. uneven, or one of the wheels of the tractor AFigure 9 is a side View of .one lof the may travel in a rut, while the remainder ot drums'th'at form a part of the raising and the parts will besubstantially higher than lowering-device for the rake. 95 0 that wheel. 4 Figure `10 is a sectional view, taken on In order to accomplish this the steering line lOflO of Figure 9, one of the posimechanism from the tractor to the sweep tions being shown in dotted lines.V rake must be so provided as to perniit move- Figure ll is a detailed, sectional view, Y ment of the parts independently ot' each showing the brake and lever device for rais- 100 45 other. ing and lowering the rake.

Still a further object is to provide a Figure 12 is a. sectional view, taken on means for raising and lowering the sweep line 12-l2 ot' Figure ll, showing' an end rake, the means being actuated by a lever elevation of the brake and raising device. device substantially adjacent to thcdrivers Figure 13 is a horizontal, central, sec. 105

60 seat. l tional view, taken on line 13-13 of F ig- A further object is to provide a brake deure 11. vice whereby the rake may be gradually ln the accompanying drawings I have lowered from inoperative to operative posi` usedA the reference numeral l0 to indicate tion, the parts being further arranged so as an ordinaryl tractor` preferably of the Fordau to permit the detaching of the rake from son type` which is provided lwith the tracthe tractor in such a way as not to interfere tion wheels l1, and the steerable Wheels l2.

' wheel 13, which operates the rod 14.'

.- 14 is connected to i land at each side of the Fixed to theshafts of the steerable-wheels 12, is the rearwardly extending spindle 15. Each of the rear ends of the spindle 15 are connected by the link or rod 16. The rod one of the spindles 15 by means of the member 17. l l f By rotating the steering wheel 13 the steerable wheels 12 are operated in unison. The parts just described are .of the ordinary type, and form no part of my invention.

The tractor 10 is provided' with a hitch device 18, to which is pivoted the yoke inember 19 at 20. The yokemember 19 is prefably made of angle iron.'

-Fixed to the yoke 19 is the Vhorizontal bar 21; which Vextends inn tion wheels 11 and projects laterally'from each of their sides. A I' Extending forwardly Jfrom the bar 21, tractor 10, are the arms 22. Fixed to each of the forward 3.5; 24 and 25 :are rigidly ends of the' arms 22 are the clevises 23,- the purposes of which will be more fully described.

I will now describe the means for attaching the rear ends of the arms 22 to the bar 21,

Fixed to each 22 on their upper the plates 24 and 25 are substantially Il.

of the rear ends of the arms and lower` surfaces are 25. The plates 24 and shaped. rIhe plates fixed to the arms 22 by means of the bolts 26. Thebar 21 has its ends received between the plates 24 and 25.

In order to fix the'plates 24 and 25 t'othe bar 21, I Vhave vprovided registering open- 'ings 27 in the plates 24 .and 25.v Openings 28 are provided in the bar 21, which register with thel openings 27, and through which are extended thepins 29, which are ,provided with a head 30.

It will be seen from theconstruction of the parts just described that when the pins 29 are received in the openings 27 and 28,

that I have formed a rigid connection be.

tween the arms 22 and the bar 21.

Fixed to the front ends of the arms 22 and to the clevises 23, is the sweep rake device A, which is composed of a series of rake teeth 31.

The rake teeth 31 are fixed to afpair of cross-bars 32 and 33.

In order-to support the rear end of the rake A, I have provided the caster wheels 34, which are fixed on the shafts 35 within the oke member 36.

T e wheels 34 are provided with a comparatively wide tread surface, which is curved so as to permit easy, free movement and rotation of the wheel 34.

Fixed between a pair of the rake teeth thev rea-rn of the trac- 'Y Lawaai@ The' housing mem housing members y means of the bers 37 are held in position bybolts 38. y

Received within the housing members 37 is the bearin place by the olts 40, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the dra-wings.

Extending upwardly from the edge of the yok'es 36 is the shank 41. Fixed to the upper end of the shank 41 is the forwardly extending lever 4 2. Each of the levers 42 are connected by the link 43, by means of the pivoted joints 44.

' In order to provide for easy rotation of the yokes 36, I havefprovided the ballbear ing races 45, as' shown in Figure 7 of the drawings.

In Vorder to properly steer the rake in unison with the steerable wheels 12 of the tractor, I have provided the Jfollowing described mechanism.

Fixed to the link-16 of the tractor is a double clamping member which is composed of the two parts 46 and 47. The clamping members 46 and 47 are held together by the bolts 48.

The clamping member 47 is provided with a downwardly projecting lug 49, in which is formed the opening 50. The opening 50 is tapered Jfrom either side so as to form a sharp center portion within the opening at 51.

A clamping member ber4 fixed on the -link 16 is also link 43 of the rake A.

Received within the opening 50 of the clamping member on the link 43 is the short shaft,` 52, which is fixed to a rearwardly extending plate 53 by means of the bolts'54.

The plate 53 is provided near its rear end with an opening 55, and the upwardly extending spaced ears 56.

Received within the opening 50 of the clamping member on the link16 is the short shai`t57 to which is fixed the Jforwardly extending arms 58 by means oit the bolts 59. rIhe ears 56 are provided with registering openings as are the arms 58.

Extended through the registering opensimilar tothe memfixed to the ings of the arms 58 and the ears 56 is the pin 60. The pin 60 is directly in line with the clevises 23.

Fixed to the rake A is the bracket 614 link 43.

The operation of the steering wheel 13 will cause the link or rod 16 to be swung to various positions. The swinging of the The pin 62 is received member 39, which is held in llO termite rod or link 16 will cause' the arms also moved. The arms 53 being' connected to the plate 53 vwill cause it to be moved, which in turn will cause the link 43l to be swung. The link 43 being connected to the levers 42 will cause the steerable wheels to be moved correspondingly with the steerable wheels 12 ot' the tractor. Movement of the wheels 12 will cause the levers 42 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 64, for moving the wheels of the rake.

The tapering of the openings 50 will permit u p and down or side movement of the shafts 52 and 57, thus permitting play4 of the parts'in order toactuate upon various 58 to be .types of fields, yet when the entire clamp j mg member is moved with the 'link y16, it, will cause the clamping member on the link 43 to be moved, thus providing a suitable steering mechanism between the tractor andr the sweep rake, which will operate under various conditions.

It will.be seen that the arms 58 will be free to swing up and down on the pin 60, independentof the movement oftheplate 53, or the plate 53 may move up and down as when the rake is raised or lowered, or when it passes over uneven ground.

The permitting of this movement will not in any way interfere with the steering of the rake.

In order to provide an evener which will tend to cause the sweep rake to travel directly in Afront of the-tractor, I have provided yieldingmeansfplaced on either side ot the' plate 53. A

The evener device comprises a plate 65 which is fixed to the cross piece 32 by means of the bolts 66. The plate 65 is slightly curved at 67 and is provided with the elongated slots 68.

Slidably mounted upon the plate are the double bearing members 69. `T he double bearing members 69 are secured to the plate 65 by means of the bolt 70, which is capable of sliding movement within the slots 68.

The double bearing member 69 is provided with registering openings in which is received the shaft 7l, on which is mounted the spring 72.

The end of the shaft 7?'. the double bearing member 69 is provided with a head 73. The head 73 is provided with a shoulder 74. The shoulder 74 is designed to rest against the side edges ot the plate 53` asshown in Figures l and 8 of the drawings.

The head 73 is provided with a portion 75 against which, the operators foot may be placed when he desires to move the shaft 7l against the action of the spring which releases it from the plate 53. The spring 72 rests against the double bearing member 69 and the head 73.

From the construction of the parts just opposite from `to travel directly ahead 'over fields that are rough.

easily travel over described it will be seen means on either side ot tend to cause the wheels that the yielding the plate 53 will 34 of the rake A ot' and in a plane parallel to the steerable wheels l2 of the tractor. f

It'will be understood that the entire device, which is fixed to the tractor hitch'lS by means of the pin 20, will be capable ot slight pivotal movement relative to the tractor on the pin 20. But the yielding device oneither side of the plate 53 will tend to hold the rake normally in positionA` and prevent any pivotal movement independent ot' the tractor, yet permit the parts to swing or moveto various ypositions when they pass The springs, however, bring the parts back to their normal position.

When it is'desired to detach the rake from the tractor the pins 29A are removed and the rear ends of the arms 22 are swung outwardly a short distance on the clevises 23. The bar 21 and the yoke 19 remaining on the tractor.

The tractor-.may then be moved rearwardly away from the rake. It will be understood that the shaft 57 will simply slide out of the opening 50 of the clamping member on the link 16 as the tractor is moved rearwardly. l

When it. is desired to disasscmble the steering mechanismbetween the tractor and the sweep rake, the operator places his toot on'the portion 75 of the head 73, until the shoulder 74 is cleared from the plattv 53. The plate 53 may then be raised or swung upwardly until it disengages the pin 62.

It will be seen that this part ot the device may readily and easily be assembled or disassembled.

The movement of the double bearing` member 69 makes it possible to vary the tensin of the springs 72, so as to make the plate 53 move easy or harder as is desired. i

Each of the rake teeth 3l are provided at their forward ends with a shoe B. The shoe B comprises a member 76 which is provided with a curved under surface so as to the ground.

The member 76 is provided on its rear side with a pair of slots which receive the side plates 78 of the member 79. which is fixed to the rake tooth by means of the bolts 80. This places the shoe B on the outside of the member 79 so that no hay or other foliage will gather onV it.

A spring device 8l. which fixed to the member 79 at 82 is wrapped around the shaft 77, and has its free end resting against the forward end of the shoe 76. This will tend to yieldingly hold the shoe 76 downwardly.

The rear portion 83 of the shoe 76, which strikes-against the upper side of the mem- 4u forwardly -and sidewardly from the brackets edge Iof the member 79, 'thus-limiting the pivotal movement 'of the shoe 76 in; the opi ,i through the f lfor raisingjand y lprovided aplrality of bearing members 85,

posite direction. In order'gto provide'H-spitable mechanism lowering the rake, I have which are fixed on the har 21. Extending bearing .members is the shaft 86 which has its ends squared as at 87.

Formed on the plates 25 are the upwardly extending hearing members 88. The bearin members 88 are provided with openings 89. Mounted between the bearing members 88 and received between the openings 89 is the drum 90, which is provided with a squared opening which-receives the squared end 87 of the shaft 86. In order to hold the bearings 88 together, I have provided a sleeve 91 through which is extended the bolt 92. The sleeve acts as a spacin member for holding the two parts of thedaearmg, 88 apart while the bolt 92 will prevent any movement of them.

Fixed to each of the drums is the cable 93.` vOn the rake A near the rear end thereof are the upwardly extending brackets 94, which are provided at their upper ends with the U shaped members 95.

The cable 93 extends forwardly from the drums 90, and are fastened to the U shaped members 95 at their forward ends.

In orderto reinforce the brackets 94 I have provided a cable 96 which is fastened 4to the rake at 97. The ends of the cable, which are fastened tothe rake at 97 extend 94, thus reinforcing hem.

. When the shaft 86 1s rotated it will be seen y that the cable 93 will be wound thereon. thus causing the rake to be raised olf of the ound. v The clevises 23 and thepin 60 act as a l hinge for accomplishing'this.

A pair of cross slats 98 are fixed to the reinforcing cable 96 so as to prevent any hay from passin on' through the operatingmechanism o the device.

In order -to -control the up and down movement .of the rake A I have a ratchet 99 fixed tot the shaft 86. A lever 100 is loosely mounted on the shaft 86 and is held in place means of the collar 101. The lever 100 ispmviaea with a pawi 102, which is degaging lever 103 is provide `104,'5The spring 105 pawl in engagement 'with the ratchet 99. I

signed to normallyengage the ratchet 99'.y

`In order to release the pawl 102 'from vengagement with the ratchet 99 the hand ennected to the pawl 102 by means of thel wire Ytion I have provided the' d, which is connormally holds the Lawyers In order to lock the .ratchet against rotation in one direction so that when the vrake A is raised it will be held in its raised posipawl 106.

The pawl 106 is mounted in a suitable bearing 107, whichis fixed to the yoke mem.- ber 19. In order to Vhold the pawl- 106 in engagement with the ratchet 99l a spring 108 is provided-. red to the bearing 107.

On the sha t`86 is the brake drum 109. Extending around the brake drum is the brake band 110. One end of the brake band 110 is fixed in the bearing 107 end of the brake band is curved and connected to a hook 111 formed on the rod 112.

The rod 112 extends through aslot 113 formed within the lever 114 is pivotedv on thebolt 115. The

foot lever 114 is provided with a short upwardly extending projection 116 to which is bolted the end of the rod 112 by means of the bolt 117. The bolt 117 has one of'its ends extended awayfrom the member 116 and is received between the ratchet 99 and rests against the pawl106. A coil spring 118 is mounted on the rod 112 between one end of thebrake band 110 and the hook 111.- This will tend to hold the foot lever 114 in its raised position, thllS causing the band 1.10 to be loose onrthe drum 109.

From the construction of thevpartsfjust described it' will be seen that movement of the hand lever 100 in the direction indicated l l by the arrow 119, will cause the .cable Yto be wound upon the drums 90, thus causing the rake A to be lifted off the ground.

The pawl 106 will prevent the weight of the rake from causing it to move downwardly` and rest upon the ground. a

It will be understood that the hand lever 100 is loosely mounted on the shaft 86 so that an oscillating 100 will cause the shaft 86 to be rotated.

When it is desired is on the rake it will be necessary to lower it gentlyv so as to prevent breaking of it.

In order to accomplish this the brake device is used.V The operator places his foot on the lever 114 and movin it to the position shown in dotted lines `1n Figure 11 of the drawings will cause vthe end ofthe b olt 117 to strike against the pawl 106 thus movingvthe pawl out of engagement with the a permit the brake band to disengage the brakedrum and thus permit the load to move slowlyl downward.

It will be seen that the releasing of the and the opposite to lower the load that brake band 110. A foot movement of the leverl I brake suiiiciently to permit the rake to lower will ynot in any way permit the'movement of the pawl 106 sufficiently to engage the ratchet 99.

If the operator desires he can during the lowering of the rake engage the hand lever 100 and'cause the pawl 102 to disengage the ratchet 99.

lVhen the entire device is detached from the tractor the squared end 87 of the shaft 86 is simply withdrawn from the drums 90 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l0 of the drawings.

The advantages of my device are that I am able to raise and lower the rake and at all timesl have absolute control of it.

Another advantage is the method of detaching the device from the tractor when it is desired to use the tractor independently of the hay rake. t

Another advantage of my device isthe steering mechanism and the simple method of attaching it to the tractor.

In this connection it will be understood that when the device has been detached and it is desired to fix the rake to the tractor, the tractor,l is driven in between the arms 22. Then the short shaft 57 is placed into the I .opening 50. It may be that the rake will bea few inches out of line, but as soon as the tractoris driven over the ground the springs 72 will cause the rake to become Centered directly in front of the tractor.

I t will. be understood that my device can be used for gathering hay, straw, alfalfa or othervfoliage crops, because the driving of the rake by the tractor gives me the variation of power that is required to operate in different kinds of fields and upon different kinds of crops.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved device without departing from the real purpose and. spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mcchanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope,

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a motor driven vehicle having a steering mechanism thereon and a wheel supported sweep rake, means for connectingsaid vehicle with the sweep rake, and means for steering said sweep rake and said vehicle for causing the steerable wheels of the vehicle and the wheels of the sweep rake to be steered in unison, said first means being positioned midway between the pair of steerable wheels, of the vehicle and .the pair of steerable wheels of the sweep rak .steering mechanism of said tractor, means for pivotally connecting said sweep rake with said tractor, said sweep rake having a pair of stecrable wheels thereon connected together by a link. means for connecting the link of the steerable wheels of the tractor to the link of the steerable wheels of the. sweep rake for steering said sweep rake from said tractor.

3. The combination of a tractor having a pair of stecrable wheels thereon, connected together by a link foi-'steering them in unison, with a sweep rake arranged forwardlysteering `mechanism thereon and a sweep rake mounted on steerable wheels, means for operatively connecting nism of the tractor with the steerable wheels of thev sweep rake, said means including a member pivoted to the sweep rake and fixed to the steering mechanism of the sweep rake, and a member pivoted to said last member and fixed to the steering mechanism of the tractor the parts being so arranged that movement of the sweep rake in any direction vwill not affect the steering mechanism.

5. The combination of a tractor having a thereon and a sweep rake mounted on steerable wheels, means for operatively connecting the steering mechanism of the tractor with the steerable wheels of the sweep rake whereby the operation of the steering mechanism of the tractor will operate the steering mechanism of the sweep rake in unison therewith, the parts being so arranged that slight lmovement in any direction will be permitted without affecting the operation of the steering mechanism.

6. The combination of a tractor having a steering mechanism with a sweep rake arranged forwardly of said tractor and having steering means thereon, cooperating steering means -for connecting the steering means of the sweep rake with the steering mechanism of the tractor. means for steering said sweep rake from said tractor and means for yieldingly holding said sweep rake directly in front of said tractor.

7. The combination of a tractor having a steering mechanism thereon and a wheell mounted sweep rake, having a steering mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mechanism operatively connecting the steering mechanism of the tractor and sweep rake together, means for yieldingly holding the auxiliary steering mechanism in position so the steering mecha-- that the sweep rake will travel directly in front of the tractor.

8. The combination of a tractor having a steering mechanism thereon and a wheel mounted sweep rake having a steering mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mechanism operatively connecting the steering mechanism of the tractor and sweep rake-together, means for yieldingly holding the auxilary steering mechanism in position so that the- -sweep rake will travel directly in front 4of the tractor, saidf'last means including a pair of spring devices adapted to rest against said auxiliary steering mechanism.

9. The combination of a tractor having a steering mechanism 'thereon and a wheel mounted sweep rake having a-steerin mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mec ianism operatively connectin the steering mechanism of the tractor an` sweep rake together, means for yieldingly holding the auxiliary steering mechanism in position so that the sweep rake willtravel directly in front of the tractor, means for raising or lowering said sweep rake from the tractor and meansfor 'locking said sweep rake in any oflits positions.

10. The combination of a tractor having a steering mechanism thereon and a `wheel mounted sweep rake ha-vinga steering mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mechanism operatively connecting the steering mechanism of the tractor and sweep rake together, means for yieldingly holding the auxiliary steering mechanism in position so that the sweep rake will travel directly infront of 'the tractor, means for raising said swee rake, and for locking it in any of its raise positions, and a lever device for lowering said sweepv rake.

11. The combination of atractorhaving a steering mechanism thereon and aV wheel mounted sweep rake having a. steering mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mechanism operatively connecting the steering mechanism of the tractor and sweep rake together,

means for yieldingly holding the auxiliary steering mechanism in position so that the.

sweep rake will travel directly in Afront of the tractor, means for raising said sweep rake and for locking it in any of its raised positions, and a brake device for gradually lowering said sweep rake.

12. The combination of a tractor having a steering4 mechanism thereon and a wheel mounted sweep rake having a steering mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mechanism operatively4 connecting the steering mechanism ofthe tractorand sweep rake together, means for yieldingly holding the auxiliary .steering mechanism in position so that the means for yieldingly holding the auxiliary steering mechanism in position so that the sweep rake will travel directly infront of the tractor, means for manually raising said sweep rake and a ratchet device for holding 'nsl said sweep rake in its raised position and means for manually rendering said ratchet device inoperative.

14. The combination of a tractor having a steering' mechanism thereon and a wheel mounted sweeprake having a steering mechanism thereon, auxiliary steering mechanism operatively `connecting the steeringV mechanism of the tractor and sweep raketogether, means for yieldinglyholding the auxiliary steering mechanism in position so that the sweep rake .will travel directly in front of theI tractor, means for manually raising said sweep rake, and a ratchet device for holding said sweep rake in its raised position, a y

brake device for holding the sweep rake in its raised position, and a lever for throwing said ratchet device -out'of engagement and for simultaneously rendering said brake device o erative.

Des cines, Iowa, Jul 22,1920.

BURTO A. SPINNEY. 

